Refrigerator



(No Model.) V D; GAUL a saws-sheet 1.

. REFRIGERATOR.

No. 447,403. Patented Mar 3, 1891.

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(No Model) 3 Sheets- Sheet '2. D. GAULL REFRIGERATOR. v i No. 447,403. I Patented Mar. 3 1891. Q

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(No Model.)

D. GAUL.

1 REFRIGERATQR. No. 447,403. Patented Mar. 3, 1891.

WIT/VESSESlm Mm ATTORNEY.

UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

DAVID GAUL, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

REFRIGERATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 447,403, dated March 3, 1891.

Application filed May 24,1890.

such as will enableothers skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,'which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in ice-boxes, refrigerators, or coolers, and, as

' herein illustrated, is designed more particularly for use by dealers in meat; and it consists of a room orrcompartment separated into two chambers-namely, one above, form-' ing the ice-chest or ice-box proper, and a larger one below-where the meat or other articles of perishable merchandise are placed.

The object of my invention is to provide a device of the class stated which, While constructed in accordance with the most approved plans of refrigerating apartments in general and embodying the best-known features of similar devices, shall at the same possess original and novel features of construction and operation, whereby the generally Well-understood principles which have heretofore been considered and followed in the manufacture of these devices shall be rendered doubly valuable; 1

My further object is to provide a device ofthe class stated which shall be simple in construction, economical in cost, durable in use, automatic, and therefore reliable in operation, and at the same time consisting of few parts and those not liable to become disarranged.

To these ends my invention consists in the features, arrangements, and combinations more particularly hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawingsis illustrated an embodi- -ment of my invention, in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the exterior of a box or room embodying my unprovements. Fig. 2 is a vertical section taken on the line a". :0, Fig. 4:. Fig. 3 is a similar sec- Serial No. 352,991. (No model) constitutes the ice-receptacle, and the lower.

compartment 3 the refrigerating or cooling chamber, in which may be placed meat, butter, vegetables, &c., which must be kept on hand by retail dealers during the warm season. 7

The numerals 4 and 5 designate doors leadin g' to the upper and lower compartments, respectively. These compartments are separated bya suitable double partition composed of plates 6 and 7, separated bythe beams or bars 8, to which these plates are secured in any suitable manner. Across the upper plate 6 are placed the strips or plates 9, upon which the ice is laid and by which it is supported from actual contact with plate 6. This plate slopes gradually toward the center of the chamber andis designed to carry off the water formed by the melting ice into a drip-pan 10, suitably supported and favorably located forthis purpose. This pan is provided with a waste-pipe 11 for carrying off its contents. Beneath the double floor of this ice-chest and surrounding the drip-pan is the warm-air chamber 12, provided with openings 13 thereinto from chamber 3 and fines 14 leading therefrom, as shown.

The communication between chambers 2 and 3 and the passage of air from one of these chambers to the other is controlled by the valves 15 15, centrally located one-on each side of the drip-pan, and the valves 16 16, located next to the outer wallsof the device. These valves are centrally pivoted at their ends, and their operation is controlled bythe mechanism which will now be described, and which will be best understood by reference to Figs. 3, 5, and 6.

The numeral 17 designates a movable crank shaped arm provided with suitable supports 18 and 19, within which its extremities have a free lateral movement. The outer extremity 26 of arm 17 is adapted to engage the door 5, for the purpose hereinafter described.

To the inner extremity of arm 18 are pivoted two extremities of the short rods 20 and 21, the opposite extremities of these rods being pivotally united to the adjacent extremities of rods 22 and 23, the outer extremities of the last-named rods being secured to a stationary hanger 24. These four rods, as shown, constitute an equilateral quadrilateral whose angles may be varied at will, since their united extremities are pivotally and independently connected. It will be observed that these rods need not be of equal length, and that the desired result will be accomplished as long as rods 20 and 21 are equal to each other, regardless of the length of rods 2 and 23, as long as the last-named rods are equal in length. The adjacent extremities of rods 21 and 23 are pivoted to a rod 27, the opposite extremity of said rod being suitably hinged to valve 16 on one side of the device. The adjacent extremities of rods 20 and 22 are pivoted to one extremity of a rod 28, the opposite extremity of said rod being hinged to the va ve 16 on the other side of the device.

29 20 are two shorter rods hinged to rods 27 and 28, respectively, at one extremity and pivotally connected at their opposite extremities to short arms 30 81, respectively, said last-named arms being rigidly secured at their opposite extremities to bars, rollers, or shafts 31, suitably journaled and extending across on either side of compartment 3. Gentrally and rigidly secured to each bar 31 is a short arm 32, the opposite extremity of which is pivoted to one extremity of a rod 33, the opposite end of said last-named rod being hinged to a valve 15. Suitably connected to arm 17 within chamber 3 is one extremity of a cord or its equivalent 34. This cord passes over pulleys 35 and 30, suitably secured to the sides of chamber 3, its opposite or lower extremity made fast to a weight 37. The front portion of chamber 3 is provided with a glass door 38, hinged at 39 and opening into a recess or small chamber 40, provided with a valve 41, centrally pivoted at its ends and adapted to close a corresponding aperture. It will be observed that door 38 is opened by lifting it upward. Valve 41 is hinged to one extremity of a rod 42, the opposite extremity of said rod being suitably hinged to the frame of the door 38, as shown.

43 is a vertical sliding rod passing through suitable apertures in the top and bottom of the casin g inclosin g recess 40. To the top rod 43 is secured a cord or chain 44, passing over a pulley 45 and provided at its outer extremity with a suitable weight 46.

47 is a short rod hinged at one extremity to rod 43 and at its opposite extremity to the frame'of door 88. The rod 47 being hinged to the rod 43 at one end and to the doors 38 at the other, when the said door is raised the upper end of the rod 47 is drawn outward. The weight 46, as the rod 47 is moved, descends, drawing the rod upward and serves as a counter-balance to hold the door in any desired position. The raising of the door draws rod 42 out sufficiently to close valve 41 by virtue of the construction shown and described.

The object of chamber 40 is to afford a receptacle easy of access without entering the main chamber of the device within which to place or have temporarily orders of meat or other articles until called for or until time for delivery. By reason of valve 41 a passage for cold air to enter from chamber 3 is always maintained when door 38 is closed, this passage being cut 011 as soon as said door is opened to the warm air from entering chamber 3.

The operation of valves 15 and 16 is as follows: lVhen door 5 is closed these valves are always open, as shown by dotted lines in Figs. 2 and 3, to permit a free passage of the cold air from chamber 2 to chamber 3. This position of the valves 15 and 16 is maintained by the pressure of the door 5 upon the outer extremity of arm 17, whereby the quadrilateral formed by rods 20, 21, 22, and 23 is forced open sufficiently to give the required pressure upon rods 27 and 28, and thence upon the auxiliary rods 29 29. On the contrary, as soon as door 5 is opened and the pressure upon arm 17 ceases, weight 37, acting upon arm 17, draws it outward and elongates the quadrilateral sufficiently to close valves 15 and 16 and prevent the warm air from passing to chamber 2.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is 1. A refrigerator divided by a suitable partition into two compartments-namely, an upper portion forming the ice-receptacle and a lower portion constituting the cooling-chamber-the partition separating these compartments being provided with valves, a frame suitably supported and composed of rods having the form of a quadrilateral, the extremities of the rods being pivotally connected, extension-rods connected with opposite sides of the pivoted frame and also connected with the valves in the partition, and an arm secured to the pivot located at one corner of said frame, said arm projecting outward, chamber 3 being provided with a door adapted to engage the free extremity of said arm, whereby the closing of the door moves the pivoted frame sufficiently to actuate the extension-rods con nected with the opposite sides of the frame, thereby opening the Valves in the partition, substantially as described, and for the purpose set forth.

2. A refrigerator composed of two compartments, one forming an ice-receptacle and the other acooling-chamber, the partition dividing these compartments being provided with valves, a frame of suitable material composed, preferably, of four sides having pivoted or movable j oiut-s and suitably supported, exten- IIO sion-rods connected at one extremity with this frame and secured to the valves at the opposite extremity, an arm secured to the frame at one extremity and extending outward, a door adapted to engage the outer extremity of said arm, whereby the closing of the door moves the frame sufficiently to actuate the extension-rods and open the valves, and a cord secured to said frame at one extremity, passing over a pulley andprovided with a weight at the opposite extremity, whereby as soon as the door is opened the action of the pivoted frame is reversed and the valves closed, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

3. A refrigerator divided by a suitable partition into chambers 2, 3, and 40, chamber 2 for the ice being located above, the coolingchamber 3 below, and the chamber 40 in front, a vertical rod passing through suitable guide-openings in chamber 40, a flexible extical rod upward, the gravity of the weight 0 being so regulated that the door 38 is supported in any desired position by the arm 47, the weight acting as a counter-balance for the door, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in 5 presence of two witnesses.

DAVID GAUL.

Witnesses:

ISHAM R. Howzn, WM. McCoNNELL. 

